Shackleton Mackinlay Rare Old Highland Malt, OB, 47.3%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Peaty, smoky, rather smooth and light, mineral, on sea brine. Well balanced and rather close in style with the Berry Bros & Rudd blend from the early 20th Century that I reviewed a few months ago.
Taste: Peaty, spicy to very spicy, peppery, smoky, oaky, slight floral notes, with some jasmine, a twist of lemon, some sea water and seashells, a touch of burnt wood and some liquorice root. Complex. The finish is medium, with some fresh oak, bitter floral notes, some peat and some light iodine and seaweeds. The oaky notes are reminiscent of rather young whiskies and strong wood interactions.
Impression: How close is it from the original whisky? Only two people had the chance to compare the original and this replica. This replica of the Shackleton whisky is a pleasant rich blend with an original profile. Considering the time that Richard Patterson had to create this blend, the result is indeed impressive. Very enjoyable blend.Contains at least some Tamnavulin, Glen Mhor, and peated Dalmore.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B4

William Larue Weller Antique Collection Autumn 2011, OB, 63.3%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, slightly creamy, on orange peel, porridge, with some light maple syrup flavours and toffee. Velvety.
Taste: Very intense, rich, complex, floral, slightly bitter, on orange peel, some sandalwood, then it becomes rather creamy, with come pecan nuts and cashew. Very smooth, mellow and complex. The finish is medium to long, very smooth and round, with some pecan and cashed nuts, some orange peel and bitter, and some creamy notes.
Impression: An excellent whiskey, rich, intense, very complex and with a superb mouth feel. So far, this is the American whiskey that I enjoyed the most. Lovely.
Rating: 17/20 FP: C1

Yamazaki 1995 The Owner’s cask for La Maison du Whisky, OB, 54%, B: 2010, sherry butt 5J3020, 420 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber-black.
Nose: On strong varnish and sherry notes, very clean, on plums, tannins, leather, as well as some sandalwood.
Taste: Smooth, fragrant, on varnish, leather, plums, tannins, rubber and rosewater. The finish is medium to long, dry, slightly bitter, very astringent, tannic, clean and on plums.
General Impression: A well made and clean whisky, but a really sherry monster. Love or hate. It was too much for me.
Rating: 12/20 FP:J2

Hakushu Bourbon barrel, OB, 48.2%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, clean, floral, round, on vanilla, pear juice and some camomile. Rounder than the Yamazaki.
Taste: Smooth, round, subtle, with some vanilla, lychees, elderberries flower lemonade, a twist of lime, a touch of coconut, pear and apple juice and a few drops of fragrant honey. Diluted, it becomes sweeter and with some vanilla. The finish is medium, round, sweet, with some honey, light fruity and floral notes.
Impression: A pleasant nice modern whisky, sweeter and more subtle than the Yamazaki. The exclusive use of bourbon barrels gives a pleasant freshness to these Suntory single malts and a different alternative to the standard Yamazaki and Hakushu.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A2

Yamazaki Bourbon barrel, OB, 48.2%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, clean, floral, oaky, and on vanilla. Very fresh.
Taste: Fresh, slightly smoky, clean, on juicy oak, with some fruits from the orchards and a pleasant light sweetness and some jasmine. Diluted, it becomes spicier, smokier, peppery, slightly bitter, more intense and with a hint of spearmint. The finish is medium, smooth and round, slightly floral and oaky, with some spices, vanilla, pear and apple juice freshly pressed.
Impression: A nice fresh, light and round whisky that becomes rather spicy once diluted. Not very complex, but a welcome freshness. Would probably work very well with an iceball?
Rating: 12/20 FP:A2

Hibiki 17 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Extremely smooth, floral, rather silky, slightly smoky, on jasmine, some sandalwood and light sweet fruity notes (quince and/or Mirabelle jam).
Taste: Very smooth and mellow, rather smoky, spicy, and slightly salty and creamy, on sweet juicy fruity and peaty notes. Rather light and subtle. Harmonious. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly smoky, on sweet fruity notes of mirabelle, quince, lychees, and elderberries flowers, and a hint of jasmine.
Impression: Probably the smoothest and mellowest whisky I have tasted. It is very light, harmonious, complex and very well balanced. A very surprising whisky that needs time to release its full potential and to be fully appreciated.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A3

Karuizawa 1981 for The Whisky Exchange, Number one drink, 57.5%, B: 2011, cask 6256. Price: N/A.
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, with lots of mild spices, some sandalwood, nutmeg, seaweeds and salt. Slightly farmy and musty.
Taste: The attack is slightly dry and bitter, then it becomes smoother, farmier, rather salty, with some game, yeast extract, nutmeg and some light peat smoke as well as some other indiscernible flavours. Quite floral at the end. With water, it becomes much smoother. The finish is medium, rather dry, woody and bitter, with some peat smoke and diverse mild spices.
Impression: A rather dry and difficult expression of Karuizawa, that really needs some water. Not as smooth or sherried as some previous expression from the 1960s or the 1970s and more meaty-farmy.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D3

Kilkerran Work In Progress batch 3, OB, 46%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Rich, intense, farmy, on butter Scotch, sea brine, a light smokiness and oakiness.
Taste: Oil, strongly maritime, on juicy oak, some butter Scotch, salt and vanilla. Rich, very intense and with some diesel smoke. The finish is medium, oily, oaky, and maritime, with some ginger. The reto-olfaction is long, oaky, spicy and gingery.
Impression: A very good intense, oily and old fashioned whisky that I enjoyed very much. It shows a good maturity.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B2

Longrow 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Very farmy and peaty, on “dirty” peaty smoke (musty), slightly maritime and dry.
Taste: Dry, mineral, peaty, spicy, with some white peach, sea brine, some maritime influence, a lemon twist, as well as some bonfire smoke. The finish is long, light, peaty and rather smooth.
Impression: They wanted to recreate an old style Longrow and the nose is pretty close to the old style Longrow, while it is sweeter, fruitier and smoother than the Longrow from the 1980, and this closer to the style from the 1970s. This Longrow is considerably cleaner and ligher than the Longrow 18 YO (blue label) from 2009 since they used less sherry casks and more refill bourbon casks. In any case, a very good Longrow.
Rating: 16/20 FP: A6

Glenlivet XXV, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, slightly floral, with some humus, mushrooms, sweet fruits notes (canned fruits), a light sweet sherry notes including tangerine, as well as some old smoke.
Taste: Smooth to very smooth, with some nice round spices, orange, tangerine, juicy oak, and some notes of leather and heather. Rich, complex and slightly oaky. Diluted, some notes of mint, cinnamon and toffee are released. The finish is medium, slightly dry and tannic, with some walnuts, leather, some tannins, orange, as well as some humus. Diluted, it becomes slightly more spicy.
Impression: A pleasant, round and mellow Glenlivet that should appeal to a large range of consumer (i.e., easy drinking).
Rating: 14/20 FP:E2

Glenlivet (The) Cellar Collection1959, OB, 42.28%, B: 2001, cask 2LHF801. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, rich, complex, very fruity, slightly fragrant and floral. Simply delicious.
Taste: Smooth to very smooth, very mellow, with on blueberries, some heather, eucalyptus,humus and old peat and bonfire smoke. Very juicy and complex. The finish is long, smooth, mellow, rich, slightly fruity, floral, and mineral, with some peat smoke, some mint, eucalyptus, white peaches, heather, humus, camphor and old cigars.
Impression: An excellent old Glenlivet. The flavour profile is old fashioned, complex, rich, mineral, smoky and on humus. A whisky to savour. Please, provide us with more whiskies like this one!
Rating: 18/20 FP: C3

Longrow 14 YO Burgundy, OB, 56.1%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Amber-red.
Nose: Immediately winey and spicy, on nutmeg, strawberries, then comes some round meaty and farmy notes on top of the peat.
Taste: Very salty, maritime, very intense, spicy to very spicy, almost hot, on bold peat smoke, then the dry sultanas notes comes, as well as the strawberries and some winey notes. The finish is medium, peaty and spicy, with a mixture of bitter-meaty-farmy flavours and some winey influence.
Impression: A rather special and unusual Longrow that I found difficult to evaluate due to the interplay between the Burgundy influence and the peatiness of the Longrow. Some will love it, some not at all. Judge it by yourself, when it will be available in the next few weeks to come.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D6

GlenDronach 1995 Single Cask Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheon for UK, 15 YO, OB, 56.2%, B: 2011, cask 4681, 725 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Oaky, fruity, on custard, tangerine, some grapes and sour berries flavours. The sherry is rather discreet (considering its colour) and round, contributing to a slight sweetness to the floral and fruity backbone.
Taste: Sweet, fruity, slightly floral, with a moderate sherry influence, rather intense and spicy, on custard, orange, tangerine, and a touch of pineapple.
Impression: A very nice and surprisingly fruity GlenDronach giving the impression that the initial maturation took place in an ex-bourbon cask. Effect for the type of cask (puncheon) ?). A well appreciated whisky.
Rating: 16/20 FP: F2

GlenDronach 21 YO Parliament, OB, 48%, B: 2011. Price: .
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very rich and fruity, on berries, orange, tangerine, chocolate, some fudge, Christmas cake, mild spices, and a hint of smoke. Very smooth and velvety. In the same vein as the 18 YO, but maybe fruitier?
Taste: Extremely smooth, deliciously fruity, slightly meaty, with some chocolate, cream fudge, a touch of rubber and some pleasant mild spices as well as some orange. The finish is long, satisfying, slightly rubbery, with some coffee, chocolate, orange peel and some brambleberries and redcurrant.
Impression: A succulent GlenDronach slightly more complex and bitter than the 18 YO. Most enjoyable.
Rating: 17/20 FP: H2

Laphroaig 1990 Bugs, 21 YO, The Whisky Agency, 56.8%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Clean, peaty, salty, maritime, rather smooth and with some iodine. Rather light and subtle.
Taste: Salty, slightly bitter and astringent, maritime, on seaweeds, seashells, some hemp rope and with a light oakiness. The finish is long, dry, astringent, smoky, on seaweeds and some iodine.
Impression: A very dry, rather austere and difficult Laphroaig.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A6

06 Sep 11

Amrut peated, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Malty, on treacle, oak, vanilla and a medium peatiness. Rather young.
Taste: Light, slightly farmy and on manure, with some burnt wood and plastic, as well as some floral notes. The peatiness is rather unique, like if something was burnt more than it should. The finish is medium, farmy, peaty, slightly dry and on burnt wood.
Impression: I like the “normal” Amrut pretty well, but the peaty notes of this whisky are rather special and woody. The whisky tasted also pretty young.
Rating: 10/20FP: A6

Four Roses Single Barrel, OB, B: 2011, Barrel DS 3-3C. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth and very floral, slightly spirity, on corn and rye,
Taste; Starts on varnish and corn, then it becomes floral, slightly soapy, spicy, nutty, and on violet. The finish is medium, dry, nutty, spicy, slightly floral and on vanilla.
Impression: A rather different version from the Small Batch, suggesting that this Barrel comes from a mash with high rye content. Drier, spicier and nuttier than the regular expression. Comparison of different single barrels from this distillery might be very interesting.
Rating: 11/20 FP: A1

Four Roses Small Batch, OB, 45%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, floral, fresh, on vanilla, some treacle and nutty spices from the rye.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, floral, on vanilla, corn (maize), cooked cereals, rye, some peach and light fragrant floral notes, as well as corn syrup. The finish is short, smooth to very smooth, on cereals, peach, corn syrup, vanilla, treacle and fresh floral notes.
Impression: Straight, it offers nice rich and smooth flavours, while diluted it becomes more sugary and on corn syrup. A pleasant Bourbon.
Rating: 13/20 FP: A1

Four Roses, OB, 40%, B: 2011, Price:

I tasted a version bottled in the 1990s some time ago, and the quality of today's product was more floral, richer and pleasant. In addition, it is now considerably cheaper than then (at least in Switzerland).
Rating: 10/20 FP: B1

26 Aug 11

Black Barrel (Givran), OB, 40%, B: circa 2000. Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Meaty, clean, alcoholic, with some apricot flavours, otherwise rather bland.
Taste: Oaky, on vanilla, sawdust, cereals, old rubber (tyre) and some apricots. The finish is short, on toffee, otherwise bland.
General Impression: A rather bland and inexpressive grain whisky. The Blacker Barrel was the original bottling from the Givran grain distillery.
Rating: 07/20

25 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1990 Single Cask for Switzerland, 20 YO, OB, 49.8%, B: 2011, cask 1241, 691 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very round, slightly rubbery, with lots of fruits, some tannin and toffee, as well as some old smoke.
Taste: Rich, fruity, slightly soapy, with nice spicy notes (nutmeg) and some fresh rubber. The finish is long, round, slightly rubbery and on mild spices.
Impression: A similar version to the GlenDronach 1989 cask 3315 but smokier and more mineral and less rubbery.
Rating: 15/20 FPH2

Macduff 1973 Bugs, 38 YO, The Whisky Agency, 47.0%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, floral, on heather, and tree wax.
Taste: Floral, fresh, with a faint hint of sea brine, pine wax and a lot of eucalyptus. Diluted, the eucalyptus notes are becoming stronger. The finish is medium to long, fresh, on pine wax and eucalyptus.
Impression: A good and original Macduff with rather strong pine and eucalyptus flavours.
Rating: 14/20 FP:B1

10 Aug 11

Cragganmore 1989, 21 YO, OB, 56%, B: 2010, 5856 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Malty, very floral, with some vanilla and heather. The floral notes are light and diverse.
Taste: Spicyy, slightly hot, with some light flavours of cooked fruits (pears?), some malt and tobacco leaves. The finish is medium, floral, soft, light, rather smoky (tobacco) and slightly astringent.
Impression: A light soft and floral version of Cragganmore that was below my expectations. I prefer to this version the younger but more complex regular 12 YO.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A1

09 Aug 11

Cragganmore 1991, 19 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 53.8%, B: 2010, cask 1176, 281 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Floral to very floral, rather light, on vanilla and some toffee. Slightly restrained undiluted. It becomes smoother and more complex with some water
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, floral, smooth, on ginger, with a nice oakiness and some toffee. Nice mouth feel, with some sweetness developing over time. The finish is medium, smooth, floral, with some menthol and banana.
General Impression: A rather light and floral whisky, with a hint of sweetness and becoming smoother and more complex with some water. A very good aperitif.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C2

Glen Garioch 1991 Bugs, 20 YO, The Whisky Agency, 54.4%, B: 2011, Price:
Colour: Pale gold-gold.
Nose: Smooth, delicately smoky, nicely oaky, with nice floral and fragrant notes, some marzipan and sun bathed barley.
Taste: Smooth, nicely oaky, with an elegant smokiness, mild summer floral notes, some marzipan and sunbathed barley. Subtle and complex. The finish is medium, slightly oaky, floral and smoky, with some peatiness, ripe barley and some marzipan, with maybe some pleasant lavender.
Impression: I have some fondness for Glen Garioch and this whisky is a very good example of subtle Glen Garioch, with a nice underlying smokiness. A whisky that should appeal to a large range of whisky enthusiasts.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A4

Glenury Royal Platinum 1968, 33 YO, Douglas Laing, 48.8%, B: 2002, 165 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: More sherried than the Dun Eideann, rubbery, slightly sulphury, round, on orange and furniture polished with beeswax. Very sherried.
Taste: Dry, tannic, rubbery, salty, spicy (cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom), oaky, with some round peat smoke. The finish is long, dry and tannic.
General Impression: A very good Glenury, but too rubbery for me. If you enjoyed heavily sherried whiskies, you will love. This one resembles to some old Glenfarclas.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E3

Glenury Royal 1973 joint bottling with The Nectar, 37 YO, The Whisky Agency, 43.0%, B: 2011, 146 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, round, malty, slightly smoky, rather soft and some light fruitiness.
Taste: Very fruity, juicy, oaky, rich, sweet, and tobacco quid. The finish is long, fruity, smoky, and slightly syrupy.
Impression: On the nose, it is slightly milder and smoother than the Blackadder 1973, but also slightly sweeter. Both are equally good and offer a slight variation in their flavour profile.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C3

Bunnahabhain 1968 The Perfect Dram for Sweden, 42 YO, The Whisky Agency, 43.8%, B:2010, 172 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-gold.
Nose: Fresh, intense, on pears, with a slight saltiness and peat smoke. After a few minutes, it becomes rounder and fuller.
Taste: Very smooth, creamy, on sweet fruity notes, some salt and maritime influence, with some banana and vanilla. The finish is medium, salty, slightly mineral, on grapes, seashells, some fish, vanilla and a light smokiness.
General Impression: A very smooth, subtle, and easy drinking Bunnhahbain.
Rating: 16/20 FP:B3

Ben Nevis 1968 Private Stock, 42 YO, The Whisky Agency, 40.0%, B: 2010, 101 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, earthy, grainy, with some nice peat smoke and syrupy fruity flavours of passion fruit, mango and peach.
Taste: Spicy, juicy, slightly salty, sweet, on ginger, some honey and elderberries lemonade. Refreshing. The finish is short to medium, earthy, with some tobacco smoke and rather strong elderberries lemonade flavours.
Impression: A whisky with a very good and fruity nose, not too far from certain Tomatin, but on the palate the elderberries lemonade (in some region of Switzerland, the elderberries lemonade was made with the flowers of the elderberries tree, sugar and some lemon slices) dominates.
Rating: 15/20 FP: C3

16 Jul 11

Glengoyne 1972 The Perfect Dram, 38 YO, The Whisky Agency, 46.3%, B: 2011, 165 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Malty, long, fresh, floral, fragrant.
Taste: Very malty, slightly fruity (pear), rich, on hay. The finish is medium, sweet, fresh, malty, clean and on pears.
Impression: A good clean and malty Glengoye, with a fresh sweetness from pear juice. Tasted blind. Based on several comments I have heard, this whisky tasted better when freshly opened (a couple of weeks before I could taste it). A whisky that must be drunk quickly?
Rating: 14/20 FP: A1

Hazelburn 12 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2010, 3900 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Light, fresh, slightly floral, on tangerine and with a zest of orange.
Taste: Light, malty, slightly oaky, on Turkish delights, with light grassy and lemony notes, as well as some tangerine and grape juice. The finish is short to medium, grassy, lemony, with a orange zest and some grapes.
General Impression: A light and zesty whisky, quite different from the 8 YO.
Rating: 12/20 FP: F1

Isle of Jura 1989, 18 YO, The Bottlers, 52.70%, cask 1107, Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Clean, malty, fresh, on hay, vanilla, with some sea brine. Diluted, it becomes more floral and subtle.
Taste: Smooth, malty, salty to very salty, smoky, rather spicy, on vanilla, ginger and pepper, with a nice a oakiness. The finish is medium to long, malty, clean, smoky to very smoky, salty, with some seaweeds.
General Impression: A very good, malty and rather smoky Isle of Jura, very enjoyable.
Rating 15/20 FP: A3

10 Jul 11

Isle Of Jura 1966 Old Malt Cask, 33 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 1999, 343 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Thick, syrupy, slightly peaty, on orange, tangerine, some exotic woods, beeswax and some humus.
Taste: Round, smooth, on tangerine, some pineapple, some spices (nutmeg and cinnamon powder). Rather thick and complex. The finish is long, slightly dry and bitter, with some woody notes, some redcurrant as well as nice sherry notes.
General Impression: A very nice, rich and complex Isle of Jura, with a slight astringency.
Rating: 16/20 FP:G2

09 Jul 11

Isle of Jura Prophecy, OB, 46%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Immediately smoky and peaty, with some hay, grilled bread, light floral notes, some seabrine, seaweeds and dry hemp rope.
Taste: Dry to very dry, tarry, salty to very salty, spicy to very spicy (mixture of pepper and cinnamon), on seaweeds, some iodine. Rather explosive. Diluted, it becomes slightly on toffee. The finish is long, dry, peaty, tarry, salty and on dried seaweeds.
General Impression: A very nicely peaty and very expressive Isle of Jura, with a certain youth giving some smoothness to the dry maritime peat smoke. A well made and much enjoyable whisky.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C7

08 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 27 YO Stillman Dram, OB, 45%, D: 1967, cask 590, Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber,
Nose: Rich, fruity, malty, on tangerine, peach, and other yellow fruits, as well as some leather and heather.
Taste: Malty, sweet, fruity to very fruity, with some grassy notes, on peach, melon, tropical fruits, as well as some smoke. The finish is long, sweet, fruity, malty, with some dryness at the end.
General Impression: A very nice Isle of Jura, rich, malty and fruity.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E2

07 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1996, 12 YO, Adelphi, 60.3%, B: 2009, cask 5191, 217 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fresh, very malty, on straw, with quite some grassy flavours.
Taste: Fresh, lemony (lemon cake), malty, smooth, quite grassy, on biscuits and some smoke. The finish is medium, smooth, malty and lemony.
General Impression: Independent bottlings of Jura and rare. This one is particularly good, with its very nice lemony flavours. A very good surprise.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B2

06 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1966. 33 YO, Mackillops, 43%, B: 2000, cask 1870. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smoky, earthy, quite round, with some peat and a nice fruity-oakiness on tangerine and peach.
Taste: Malty, earthy, smooth, smoky, complex, on tangerine, peach, with some peat and fudge. The finis is medium, satisfying, oaky, smoky, and slightly floral, with some nice round fruity notes.
General Impression: A very nice Isle of Jura, rich, rather smoky and with an enjoyable oakiness.
Rating: 17/20 FP:D3

05 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1989, 18 YO, Scott's Selection, 59.6%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Light, very floral, malty, slightly yeasty, with some seabreeze.
Taste: Very round, lots of slight spices, slightly spicy, oaky, spirity, with a lot of vanilla and caramel. The finish is short to medium, on toffee, cereals, with a hint of bitterness.
General Impression: A clean and fragrant Isle of Jura, with plenty of vanilla.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B1

04 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1999 Earth Feis Ile 2008, OB, 46%, 840 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very peaty, farmy, malty, on smoked ham and some grassy notes.
Taste: Fresh, malty, peaty, slightly yeasty, on smoked ham and freshly ground coffee. The finish is medium to long, peaty, malty and on coffee.
General Impression: A goood Isle of Jura, heavy peated, the one I enjoyed the most from the "Jura Elements" serie. I personally preferred the first 1999 Heavy Peated Edition (58%) bottled a few years ago.
Rating: 14/20 FP:D8

03 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1993 Air Feis Ile 2008, OB, 46%, 768 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold,
Nose: Light, fresh, malty, with some tangerine, melon, Mirabelle and some spices.
Taste: Malty, spicy to very spicy (vegetal broth and yeast), dry to very dry, on grapes, with a rather strong influence of the manzanilla finish. Diluted, it becomes more floral and on honey. The finish is medium, malty, spicy-yeasty and slightly acetic.
General Impression: The conbination of the malty-yeasty flavours of Jura combine with the acetic influence of the manzanilla is not too much to my taste.
Rating: 10/20 FP:D1

Isle of Jura 1988 Water Feis Ile 2008, OB, 49.6%, 624 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Malty, spicy, slightly yeasty, on honey, with some hints of smoke and some raisins.
Taste: Malty, spicy, slightly yeasty, on hops, with some sulfury rubber. The finish is medium, malty and rubbery.
General Impression: A good whisky, but too rubbery to my taste.
Rating: 10/20 FP:FD1

Lagavulin 12 YO (white label, clear bottle), OB, 43%, B:1970s. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very peaty, maritime, slightly mineral,on cold ashes, iodine, seaweeds, on old smoke and some fish. Excellent, rich, and complex.
Taste: Very salty, strongly maritime, tarry, very mineral, with lots of cold ashes, some lemon, old cold smoke, and on tangerine. Well balanced. Diluted, it becomes slighty more citric and slightly sour. The finish is medium to long, very peaty and ashy, mineral, tarry, on bonfire smoke and old seaweeds.
Impression: An excellent sharp, intense and very complex Lagavulin, containing probably a certain proportion of older whiskies. This one is much more to my liking than the most "recent" 12 YO white label with the green bottle.
Rating: 18/20FP:F7

Tomatin 1976, 34 YO, Liquid Sun, 48.7%, B: 2011.Prix:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: The attack is slightly nutty and dusty, with an elegant fruitiness, dry apricots, some orange and tangerine. Then, the nutty dusty flavours disappear and are replaced by bolder and fruitier notes.
Taste: Slightly smoky and peaty, oily, very fruity, on banana, mango, tangerine, guava and some other tropical fruits. Complex. The finish is long, syrupy, slightly smoky, with light tannins and a big fruitiness, as well as very discreet austere notes.
Impression: An excellent big and fruity Tomatin, with a light astringency in the finish.
Rating: 17/20 FP: H3

Tomatin 1967, 40 YO, Signatory, 51.8%, B: 2007, 415 b. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose. Floral, minty, on freshly cut grass, grapes, old cigar boxes, milk chocolate, and orange. A charming nose with a pleasant sherry influence not as pronounced as one would expect based on the colour (i.e., no rubbery notes).
Taste: Slightly woody, spicy, fresh, minty, earthy, quite heavy and thick, slightly tannic, on leather, old wood cigar box and blueberries. Very complex. The finish is medium-long, dry and woody, spicy, on leather, orange and cigar smoke.
General Impression: An excellent Tomatin in the same league as the old Glen Grant or Longmorn from the early 1970s.
Rating: 18/20

Tomatin 1966 joint bottling with The Nectar, 45 YO, The Whisky Agency, 46.1%, B: 2011, 391 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Rich, fruity, juicy, oaky, sweet, slightly grassy, on honey.
Taste: Rich, fruity, complex, slightly waxy, juicy to very juicy, fruity, slightly spicy and on mustard. Diluted, it becomes smooth and fruitier. The finish is long, smooth, waxy, fruity, on vanilla, some wood and leather. Diluted, more woody.
Impression: The nose of this Tomatin is very nice round, sweet and with some wood in the finish.
Rating: 16/20 FP:D3

22 Jun 11

Tomatin 1976, The Whisky Agency, 51.3%, B: 2011, 309 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Light, fruity, elegant, with a certain maltiness and dustiness. With time, it becomes slightly more intense and fruity.
Taste: Slightly bitter and citric, with some spiciness and nice sweet fruits (mango, orange and banana). The finish is long, rather dry and citric, fruity, with a light smokiness.
Impression: A nice Tomatin, fruity, with rather bitter and citric flavours. A Tomatin with a strong personality.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E3

Tomatin Decades, OB, 46% (?), B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very creamy, smooth, milky, slightly young, with some caramel milk shake and a light peatiness.
Taste: Very creamy, slightly spicy and peaty, with some caramel, pepper, apples and vanilla, with a light fruitiness. Diluted, it becomes creamier. The finish is medium, creamy and slightly bitter.
Impression: Released to commemorate the decades of work of the distillery manager. This just bottled Tomatin includes some lightly peated Tomatin and should be released next month. A very creamy expression of Tomatin.
Rating: 10/20 FP: D1

Glen Garioch “Hand Written Label” 1975, Samaroli, 57%. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very peaty, intense, austere, and floral, with some farmy notes.
Taste: Very peaty, slightly spicy, rather smooth, fruity, farmy, juicy, and with some mineral and grassy notes. Delicious. The finish is long to very long, peaty, round, slightly floral and mineral, with a nice smoothness, a touch of pollen and an ever present mineral cold peat smoke.
Impression: Simply a superb whisky, well balanced, harmonious, with the right of peat and a beautiful juiciness.
Rating: 19/20 FP: C6

Clynelish 1997, 13 YO, The Whisky Fair, 48.9%, B:2011, 170 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very clean, smooth, young, malty, with some gooseberries.
Taste: Smooth, young, malty, with some pollen, quince and mustard seeds. The finish is short to medium, malty and slightly waxy.
Impression: Tasted just after the Glenheaven, it might have suffered from the comparison. This one is nicely round and slightly waxy, but does not offer the same intensity or complexity as the former. On the other, it is still available and fairy priced.
Rating: 11/20 FP: A1

Caol Ila Moch, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, rather sweet and young, maritime and with nice dry and tarry peaty notes.
Taste: Light, clean, juicy, maritime, smooth, salty, peaty, tarry, rooty with a pleasant roundness and lemon cake. The finish is medium, sweet, peaty, maritime, young and very tarry.
Impression: A young and medium peated Caol Ila, rather simple, but with a nice balance, sweetness and rather rich peaty notes that works well. A dangerously drinkable Caol Ila and an excellent introduction to the peatier and drier Caol Ila core range. Reminds me somewhat of the Ardbeg 17 YO, with probably a mixture of Islay and Highland (non-peated) style of Caol Ila casks. This Caol Ila is very good value.
Rating: 14/20 FP: C6

Bunnhahabhain 1973, 36 YO, Liquid Sun, 50%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose Very round, smooth, with an explosion of cream toffee, on coffee, tangerine, some sea brine and a light smokiness. Diluted, it becomes less on toffee but much more fruity.
Taste: Round, rather spicy and salty, slightly smoky and citric, rich, complex, on tangerine, orange, toffee and some pineapple. The finish is long, rich, spicy, smoky, salty, with some iodine, seawater, orange and tangerine.
Impression: A deliciously smooth and fruity Bunna, maybe not the most typical one, but a very fine one. Exquisite.
Rating: 17/20 FP:F3

Caol Ila 1981, 30 YO, The Whisky Fair, 51.6%, B: 2011, 130 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very intense, peaty, with some seaweeds, salt, some patisserie and iodine. There are also some nice juicy and sweet oaky notes.
Taste: Round, oaky, with some peat, a slight saltiness, on seaweeds, vanilla, diesel smoke and some left over of hemp rope and some mint leaves. Mellow. The finish is long, round, smooth, complex, on peat smoke, seaweeds and some tar.
Impression: With time, the peat levels goes down and this one is no exception, but over its long maturation, it gained in complexity and in balance. Very enjoyable.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A6

Brora 30 YO Annual Release, OB, 54.3%, B: 2010, 2958 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Clean, peaty, rather maritime, sweet and slightly farmy. with some light juniper berries, and with a delicious complex smoke. Reminding me somewhat of the Brora 25 YO.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, rather light, with a delicate and complex peat smoke, slightly mustardy, with some flavours of distant seashells and seaweeds. The finish is long, rather sweet and smooth, slightly mustardy and smoky.
Impression: The latest Brora 30 YO is an interesting Brora, rather different from the previous Annual Releases. It is less peaty, sweeter and cleaner, with a lightness reminding me of the early 1970s Brora from the Rare Malts range. I appreciated this Brora on its own and do not be worry, this is a pure Brora! Most enjoyable.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B4

Brora 1981, 19 YO, The Bottlers, 61%, B: 2000, Cask 1076. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Peaty, farmy, with some meaty-mustardy notes, distant whiff of seaweeds and lovely notes of sweet sherry and tarr.
Taste: Very mustardy, peppery, farmy, waxy, on game (pheasant), dry peat and big tarry smoke flavours, some charcoal and very good dry sherry. A big beast! The finish is very long, smoky, peppery, spicy, peaty, with quite some game and dry sherry.
Impression: An impressive and powerful Brora, with some Dijon mustard and old smoke flavours reminding me of these old chimneys where the farmers were smoking their bacon and sausages. I loved this one.
Rating: 19/20 FP:G6

Brora 1982 Old Malt Cask, 23 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2006, 348 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Mustardy, slightly farmy, with a certain dry peaty smokiness. Rather austere and dry.
Taste: Mustardy to very mustardy, with light sweet aromas and a slight soapiness, rather salty and coastal, with light farmy notes and a touch of bitter rubber. The finish is long, waxy, very mustardy (“moutarde à l’ancienne”), with some juniper berries and old smoke.
Impression: A very farmy and mustardy Brora, with some juniper berries and old smoke.Thank you Daniel.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C4

23 May 11

Berry Bros & Rudd blend from the Early 20th Century. Price: N. A.
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Very peaty, sweet, grassy, floral, with some starch, salt and certain harshness.
Taste: Sweet, young, grainy, grassy, slightly harsh and spirity, with the smell of a not too distant Scottish harbour. The finish is medium, peaty, sweet, with some pear and light green grassy notes. Diluted, it becomes smokier, more mineral and spicier, with a long peaty and mineral retroolfaction.
Impression: A very interesting blend, very peaty and on charcoal, with a slight harshness. I enjoyed very much this light blend, and without the “old bottle effect” present, I suppose that this whisky was certainly rough when bottled and based on the flavour profile, a certain amount of Campbeltown malts was used. This whisky was one bottle of these “Early 20th Century blend from BBR” lot sold by Bonhams this year (2011). Only a thin filigram of the label was left on those bottles, therefore no more details on this entry can be provided. Thank you very much Patrick S.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B6

21 May 11

St-Magdalene 1982, 20 YO, Cadenhead's, 52.7%, B:2008, 240 b. Price:
Colour: Light gold
Nose: Fresh, floral, on vanilla, with a hint of smoke, honey and quince. Diluted, it becomes slightly fruity and citric (lemon).
Taste: Malty, spicy (pepper and a touch of salt), mellow, smoky, on tobacco leaves, vanilla and a hint of caramel. Diluted, it becomes more on lime and lemon. The finish is medium, malty, slightly dry and bitter, smoky, with some old tobacco leaves.
General Impression: A good and mellow Lowlander, rather smoky and pleasant.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C4

St-Magdalene 1982, 25 YO, Blackadder, 61.8%, B: 2008. 603 bottles. Price: :
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Smooth, malty, with some very mild spices, vanilla, a hint of smoke and some peach.
Taste: Very smooth, malty, with a nice oakiness and floral notes, some spices and some grass. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly grassy, bitter and smoky.
General Impression: A very smooth whisky, with some spices. Very pleasant.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

Glenkinchie 18 YO, Cadenhead's, 56%, Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose; Very smooth, floral, round, grassy, on vanilla and lemon grass.
Taste: Light, floral, with a hint of smoke and grass. Diluted, it becomes more bitter. The finish is medium, light, floral, fruity, with some roundness and apples.
Impression: A rather light but refreshing Glenkinchie for the summer. 35 cl bottle.
Rating: 13/20

Ballantine’s 17 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Nicely smoky, rather peaty, sweet, slightly floral, rich, quite fresh and with some fudge.
Taste: Rather sweet, slightly peaty and grassy, soft, juicy, floral, with some caramel, fudge. Well balanced. The finish is medium to long, slightly maritime, floral, slightly grassy, with some toffee, heather, a touch of bitterness and citrus fruits.
Impression: A very made blend, with a nice coastal-peaty influence and a light fresh sweetness. Most pleasant. One of the best and affordable blend around. Nominated as world whisky of the year by Jim Murray in his whisky bible 2011
Rating: 14/20 FP:D3

Glenlossie 1984, 24 YO, Signatory, 59.1%, B: 2009, cask 2536, 549 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, grassy, fresh, on marzipan and some juicy tangerines.
Taste: Very grassy and smooth, round, creamy, slightly smoky, with some caramel, raisins, banana, some sweet fruits as well as some rubber. The finish is medium to long, smooth, grassy, creamy and with some tangerine.
General Impression: A very nice, smooth, grassy and enjoyable Glenlossie.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F2

03 May 11

Glenlossie 1966, 40 YO, Adelphi, 50%, B: 2006, cask 3779, 213 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Floral, fresh, with some nice juicy maltiness and oakiness, quite round.
Taste: Oaky, on juicy malt, quite smoky, round, nicely balanced, on vanilla and peach. The finish is medium, round, oaky, with some juicy malt and quite some smoke.
General Impression: The malty and floral notes of Glenlossie are well present, with a smokiness more pronounced than current expression of Glenlossie. It becomes better with some water.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D3